Proceedings of the IBA IEA Conference on Economics and Public Policy (Ecofluence 2024)

The Competitive Edge in Quick Commerce: A Study of Differentiation Strategies and Operational Innovations

Authors
Bharath Chandra Chilaka1, Rounak Basu1, *
1PGDM Student, Indus Business Academy, Bangalore, 560082, India
*Corresponding author. Email: Fpb2325.022.rounak@iba.ac.in
Corresponding Author
Rounak Basu
Available Online 24 June 2025.
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_21How to use a DOI?
Keywords
Quick Commerce (Q-commerce); Consumer Behavior; Operational Efficiency; Competitive Differentiation
Abstract

The industry of quick commerce (Q-commerce) in India has flourished impressively, primarily due to the fast-changing lifestyles of consumers, as well as their intrinsic need for instant delivery. The research related to this study was carried on leading Q-commerce competitors—Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, BB now, and Dunzo-in which their strategies for differentiation and operational renovation had been explored. The paper exposes relevant gaps in research regarding the application of strategic frameworks to this new sector. Accordingly, the present study intends to fill the gap with the aid of Michael Porter’s Generic strategy model, wherein the study assesses each player in the new industry using composite scores based on the level of delivery services and types of products utilized. Primary data were collected using a structured survey of 55 respondents to determine consumer preferences and perceptions. Chi-square test, correlation analysis, and factor analysis were performed to validate strategic positioning and understand consumer behavior. The results show that Blinkit and Zepto are among the top-using platforms for youngsters, while Swiggy Instamart creates a balanced appeal. Insights on strategies may be derived from findings that could enhance strategic understanding in Q-commerce and provide ways toward market differentiation and consumer-centric innovation in this cut-throat field.

Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Download article (PDF)

Volume Title
Proceedings of the IBA IEA Conference on Economics and Public Policy (Ecofluence 2024)
Series
Advances in Economics, Business and Management Research
Publication Date
24 June 2025
ISBN
978-94-6463-766-3
ISSN
2352-5428
DOI
10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_21How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2025 The Author(s)
Open Access
Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Bharath Chandra Chilaka
AU  - Rounak Basu
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/06/24
TI  - The Competitive Edge in Quick Commerce: A Study of Differentiation Strategies and Operational Innovations
BT  - Proceedings of the IBA IEA Conference on Economics and Public Policy (Ecofluence 2024)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 438
EP  - 460
SN  - 2352-5428
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_21
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6463-766-3_21
ID  - Chilaka2025
ER  -